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A truck blind spot accident is a terrible situation because trucks are extremely big vehicles that can cause catastrophic injuries and other consequences to those involved in the truck accident. However, although many believe that the truck driver is always at fault for the accident, this isn't always the case. Several factors come into play in truck blind spot accidents, so the best thing to do is to get a free consultation from a truck accident lawyer who can help determine liability.
What Are Blind Spots?
The places that a truck driver cannot see are called blind spots. These places make it difficult for the driver to see the things around the truck, which might cause them to drive into the path of another car or other road users without knowing they might cause damage to others around them. Every vehicle has blind spots, but due to the truck's enormous size, these blind spots are much larger than those in regular cars.
Blind spot accidents occur in the following areas:
Up-front. Since the trucks sit higher than regular vehicles, the driver's vision is obstructed by the truck's large engine chambers.
On the left. The left-side blind spot of a tractor-trailer extends diagonally from the driver's side of the cabin to the rear of the trailer. When a driver goes into another lane or tries to pass another vehicle, they may not be able to see automobiles or other things in their blind spot.
Right-side blind spot. The right-side blind area of a tractor-trailer extends diagonally from the passenger side of the cabin to the rear of the trailer. However, due to the position of the truck driver in relation to the blind spots on the right side of the vehicle, this blind spot is less likely to cause a truck accident.
The rear. The rear of the trailer truck usually cannot be seen from the point of view of the truck driver. Therefore, if the driver of the passenger vehicle has a truck in front of them and can't see its side-view mirrors, the driver probably can't see them.
Types of Blind Spot Accidents
Rear-end Collisions
Driving too close to the truck driver's rear-end blind area frequently results in rear collisions. Most truck drivers are unlikely to be aware of other automobiles if they're too close to their rear. Similarly, a truck may be rear-ended by another vehicle if the driver suddenly slows down without checking behind them.
Sideswipe Collisions
Sideswipe collisions can happen when a truck driver fails to see a car in their left or right blind area. Drivers run the danger of colliding with cars in those lanes if they fail to check their blind spots before changing lanes or merging into or off of a highway.
Side-impact Accidents
Side-impact accidents, sometimes called T-bone accidents, are less common than other blind spot mishaps. However, these accidents can be catastrophic because automobiles lack side crumple zones, protecting people from a crash's full force.
How to Determine Liability in Blind Spot Accidents
Before driving into adjacent lanes, most drivers check their mirrors and turn their heads to make sure no one is in their blind spots. However, some people cannot detect vehicles that are there. Still, this does not eliminate the responsibility for an accident if the driver fails to see a vehicle in their blind area.
The person who enters another lane and strikes another car will often be at fault for the blind spot accident. It is advised that drivers change lanes only after ensuring they can do so safely. Therefore, if these accidents happen, they are likely to be considered negligent acts and should be taken care of by a personal injury lawyer.
When Is the Struck Driver at Fault?
In a few specific circumstances, the driver in the blind spot may be at fault for the tractor-trailer accident; for example, if the driver in the blind spot passed by the truck's right side and caused a blind spot accident, they may be held accountable for it.
If the truck blind spot accident occurred when the truck driver was attempting to pass the other vehicle, but the other driver sped up to prevent the semi-truck from doing so, the motorist in the blind spot might also be at blame.
Drivers passing the truck on its left side must pay attention to oncoming traffic. If a vehicle decides to pass another on its left side or her blind spot after finding it is safe, but the other driver accelerates, they may be liable for the collision.
Both drivers can be at fault in some blind spot accidents. This can happen if one accelerates up to block a passing vehicle and the other simultaneously merges into it without looking first.
Assessing fault in a blind spot accident is not always simple. In order to determine what happened and who was at fault, the victims can research what happened and reconstruct the accident with the help of an attorney.
Evidence for Proving Liability in a Truck Accident
The victim must provide proof of the other driver's negligence to receive compensation in a blind spot accident lawsuit. In order to do this, they must provide evidence of each of the legal components of negligence, which are the following:
Duty
Breach
Causation
Damages
Moreover, this can be done by providing images of the blind spot accident scene, video surveillance footage, evidence from witnesses, testimony from an expert witness, etc. The best part is that this can be taken care of by a personal injury lawyer, who will expertly deal with the personal injury claim caused by the tractor-trailer accident.
Truck Driver Negligence
Commercial truck drivers spend much time traveling away from their homes. When faced with a delivery deadline and the need to get home quickly, a driver may become involved in the following causes of negligence:
Distracted Driving
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, distracted driving causes numerous truck accidents. This includes distractions inside and outside the cab.
Drunk Driving
Commercial truck drivers in Missouri have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.04 percent or higher.
Reckless Driving
Reckless driving includes several behaviors, such as speeding, running red lights, and hazardous lane changes.
Falling Asleep While Driving
Fatigued driving can be caused by extended stretches of monotonous driving, the inability to take a nap during required rest periods, and other issues.
Like all drivers, truck drivers have several issues to overcome. However, the injuries can be catastrophic and fatal if a tractor-trailer collides with a vehicle, truck, motorcycle, biker, or pedestrian. A personal injury attorney can help victims if a commercial truck driver is to blame for their accident injuries. It takes substantial legal skill to fight for compensation for these damages. Moreover, victims usually don't have time to handle the complex issues of your truck accident claim because of their serious injuries. In order to obtain compensation, a Missouri truck accident attorney works with the accident victims. Powell Law Firm can also answer questions such as, "Who's at fault in Truck Tire Blowouts in Missouri?" and "Who's at fault in Underride Accidents in Missouri?"
Trucking Company Negligence
The blind spots around a tractor-trailer do not suggest possible hazards. One example is damaged brakes, which are invisible to other motorists. Similarly, although they could be obvious, worn tires are not something people notice as they pass a vehicle. The trucking company is responsible for keeping its vehicles safe on Missouri roadways. Sadly, motorists may leave enough room between their vehicle and the back of a semi-truck, only to sustain injuries in a rear-end collision resulting from a truck's defective brakes. In these cases, it is crucial to hire a professional attorney because trucking companies and their insurance companies will try the following:
Avoid replacing broken truck parts to save money.
Forget to perform regular vehicle maintenance and inspections.
Poor maintenance and driver mistakes both play a part in some truck accidents. The best thing to do is contact a lawyer immediately if the victim passes by a truck's blind spot only to sustain serious injuries in a careless crash.
Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer as Soon as Possible
When obtaining compensation, time is not on the victim's side. Most states, including Missouri, have a stringent deadline for submitting blind spot crash cases. This is called a statute of limitations. The moment the victim sustains an injury, or a loved one dies due to an accident, the victim should act as fast as possible. A truck collision is a terrifying incident that completely changes your world. While the victim handles their medical care or organizes a funeral for their loved one, a thousand ideas, fears, and concerns fill their mind. Days, weeks, and even months slip by before they know it, reducing the likelihood that they will file their complaint. They will lose the right to compensation if the deadline passes without filing their claim. Powell Law Firm has the best truck accident lawyers to help you.
Hire a Personal Injury Attorney for Your Blind Spot Accident Today
Here at Powell Law Firm, we are used to dealing with blind spot car accidents, so we know how to find the at-fault driver and hold them accountable for the blind spot crash. Therefore, all victims who passed a truck driver's blind spot and became injured due to a blind spot accident should call us to get a free consultation for our services and file a personal injury claim to compensate for their medical bills.